Final answer:
Lands' End, as a catalog retailer, had a range of competitors including department stores, mass merchandisers, specialty shops, and other catalog retailers. The mail-order business model expanded consumer access across the nation, which was transformative in the evolution of shopping patterns and consumerism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lands' End, known as a catalog retailer and now part of Sears, competed with a variety of retail formats. Traditional department stores, mass merchandisers, specialty shops, and other catalog retailers are considered its competitors. Lands' End and other mail-order businesses capitalized on advances in transportation and communication that allowed them to serve national markets. This greatly broadened consumer access to different products, especially in rural areas.
The development of mail-order catalogs, such as the one from Sears, Roebuck & Company, provided consumers with a plethora of choices, making it possible for residents in remote locations to enjoy the same products as those in urban centers. Catalogs reduced the isolation of rural consumers, enabling them to purchase items at fair prices and often with a money-back guarantee to compensate for the imperfect information inherent in not being able to physically examine products. This mechanism of trade was a major shift in consumerism, reflecting modern patterns of shopping and the spread of standardized consumer goods throughout the country.